Chapter Four - A Confusing Aliment

I do NOT own Fairy Tail

As Natsu and Lucy walked into the guild hall together arm in arm, everyone turned to them and stared with wide eyes. They looked gorgeous together - the dim lighting sparkling off of Natsu's sharp toothy grin.

The Guild hall was decorated like the night sky, fake moons and candles that looked like stars covered the ceiling under a dark blue back drop. The tables were covered in a fluffy white material to make them look like clouds.

In that moment in time, no one was fighting, nothing was wrecked. Fairy Tail was fit for kings and queens.

"Wow," Lucy breathed, gazing at all the decorations.

"This is AWESOME!" Natsu detached himself from Lucy and walked straight to the buffet table.

Lucy giggled, she was in too good of a mood to be annoyed.

"Lucy!" Lucy turned to see Erza waving her over.
"Hey," Erza said, looking Lucy up and down, "You look nice."

"Maybe, but I always feel underdressed compared to you!" Erza wore a floor length, tight purple dress that contrasted nicely with her scarlet hair. Pearls dangled from neck, giving her a sophisticated look.

Erza rolled her eyes and waved a hand at Lucy.

"So, I see that you and Natsu came in together."

"He feels bad about what he said, so he's making it up to me. If there wasn't food here, he'd be miserable." Lucy shrugged, believing what she said.

"Are you sure about that?" Erza tilted her head in the direction behind Lucy.

The blonde wizard clutched her bag as she turned around. Natsu was walking towards them, no food in sight.

"Hey guys! Whatcha talkin about?" Natsu said, innocently slipping his arm over Lucy, who was blushing.
"Nothing!" Lucy said wiggling out from under his arm, trying to hide her face.

"Natsu, don't you think Lucy looks nice?" Erza questioned, a mischievous lop-sided smile displayed on her lips.

"Uh, sure." Natsu scratched his head, already regretting approaching the two.

Lucy, who was drowning of a pit of nerves, tried to change the subject.

"Why didn't you get any food, Natsu?"

"Eh, nothing looked good." Natsu commented nonchalantly, his onyx eyes danced around the room, taking everything in.

On the outside Lucy nodded her head in understanding, but on the inside she was confused and flustered by his change of behavior.

"You okay?" Natsu asked Lucy, tilting his head to one side.

Apparently she was showing her confusion.

"Yes~" She sing-songed, a little too happily, causing Natsu to raise an eyebrow.

"Ooookay." Natsu walked away from the girls towards where Marakov was sitting.

As he walked away, Erza tried hard to suppress her laughter, "That was rough."

Lucy hung her head and nodded.

Loud taps from a microphone echoed through the hall. "Hello everyone!" It was Mirajane, standing on the stage, her dress a magnificent yellow with jewels the lining the neck. Lucy had never her seen her look this elegant.

"To start us off, we have Lucy's celestial spirit, Lyra!" Everyone went wild as Lucy slapped her forehead.

"I forgot all about that." When Lucy gave Mira her chocolate earlier in the day, she had asked Lucy if she could have Lyra to play, and Lucy agreed.

Walking towards the stage she pulled Lyra's key from her bag. Please don't be mad at me, she thought while gripping the key tighter.

When she arrived backstage she summoned her spirit, "Open gate of The Lyre! Lyra!"

Lucy flicked her arm in a cross motion and Lyra appeared, her curls bouncing.

"Hey! I'm am so sorry Lyra, I forgot to ask you to play tonight!" Lucy apologized, putting her hands in a praying position.

Lyra squealed with excitement, "No problem, Miss Lucy!" Lyra bowed, holding her harp, giving Lucy an endearing smile before stepping on stage.

Lucy worked her way through the dance floor as Lyra played an upbeat song, something that everyone could dance to.

Lucy stopped in the middle of the space because she spotted Levy dancing with Gajeel. Gajeel moved side to side, not making the slightest attempt to hide how awkward he felt.

Lucy smiled at how cute the two were as Lyra switched into her next song. The song was melancholy - weightless it floated through the air, sneakily stealing everyone's heart and carrying them to a place that was seldom visited. People started pairing, swaying as if in a trance.
Lucy herself was beginning to feel lost in the rhythm of the song, but her rose colored glasses were taken off by the sight of Natsu, bowing jokingly.
"Dance, M'lady?" He laughed, holding out his hand. Lucy curtsied and stepped forward, placing one hand in his and the other on his shoulder. Natsu must have remembered the dance moves Erza had taught him, because he danced well. His hand rested on her hip gently as they moved with fluidity.

Lucy, who was too busy focusing on her feet did not notice Natsu looking at her a way that he'd never had before. A feeling mixed with giddiness and pure joy felt as though it was bubbling up his throat. What is wrong with me? Natsu thought, frustrated. Am I sick?

The song finished, and Lyra stood up to take a bow. "Thank you everyone! You are all very wonderful!" Not long after she disappeared Gajeel took the stage and the crowd groaned.

Natsu let go of Lucy, the two locked eyes for a brief second until Natsu blurted out, "Uh, I gotta go to the bathroom!"

He ran off, Lucy's eyes trailing behind him.

Natsu splashed water on his face, certain that it would help whatever sickness he had.

This is almost as bad as my motion sickness. He starred in the mirror, searching in his own eyes for an answer. He moaned, shaking his head. I'll just stay in here for the rest of the night. Yeah! Good plan, I'm a genius!

He backed up against the wall away from the stalls and sat down, putting his head in his knees.

He was too lost in thought to hear the door open, but when he heard someone say his name he looked up. Gray was standing in front of him, his eyebrow cocked.

"What are you doing?" Gray asked, annoyed.

"Hiding." Natsu answered, sounding pathetic.

"Hiding? From who?"

"Everyone. I don't feel good."

Gray laughed, putting one hand on his hip and pointing at him with the other.

"You don't look sick. You hiding from Lucy?"

Natsu turned beet red. "No!" He shouted, putting his hands in the air. "I'm not! Why would I hide from Lucy?"

Gray gave him a smug smile, "Because you like her, Dragon Breath."

Confused Natsu blankly looked at Gray.

"Of course I like her. We are on the same team!"

Gray turned around, and started walking towards the door.
"You truly are as dense as they come, Natsu." He put his hand in the air, "get outta the bathroom. I'm not going until you leave, creep." His words echoed as he disappeared behind the door.

Lucy yawned as Happy, Carla and Wendy chatted around her. Her day had been a rollercoaster and she had started to feel the effects of it. Her eyes began to blink slowly, her body feeling heavy.

"Hey Lucy," Wendy asked looking up at her "where did Natsu go?"

Oh yeah. Natsu. "Hmmm I don't know, I haven't seen him since the he went to the bathroom, and that was probably an hour ago."

The party was starting to wind down, Bisca and Alzack were the only two on the dance floor, slow dancing to a song Mira was playing on her guitar. Everyone else had either left or they were sitting at the cloud covered tables, drinking and talking quietly.

She scanned the room for Natsu but he was nowhere to be seen.

Lucy shrugged, too tired to care. "I guess he went home, which is what I am going to do." Lucy waved goodbye to the three as she made her way to the exit.

As soon as the cool air hit her face she relaxed, ready for her head to hit her pillow.

Something in the corner of her eye moved, she turned her head in it's direction.

"Natsu? What are you doing out here?"

Natsu was sitting on the ground with his back up against the front of the guild, doing what he was before, just in a different location.
"Ah, ha. Nothing, well uh. I don't feel good." Natsu scrambled, shooting to his feet.

"Uh, okay. Well good night." Lucy started off in her respected direction.

"Want me to walk you home?" Natsu called after her.

Lucy turned around, smiling, shaking her head. "No thanks, I'll be okay."

Her hands reached for her bag, opening and taking something small out. Lucy threw it to Natsu, which he caught with one hand, "Here. I am taking the day off tomorrow to write, so don't come around okay? Let's take a job after that though."

Lucy turned around and began to walk away from Natsu, "Thanks for tonight. Even though you ditched me for most of it, I still enjoyed our dance."

Natsu watched Lucy until she disappeared around a corner, then looked at the small box covered in flames.

Natsu wore a soft smile the whole walk to his home.

Ugh, Lucy! Why didn't you let him walk you home!?

So - Lucy is denying her feelings and Natsu is too dumb to realize them. (Gray basically needs to spell it out for him!)

Which of the pair do YOU think will admit their feelings first? Natsu or Lucy?

I have some oc's coming up that I am pretty proud of. *smirk*

Also this is just Natsu/Lucy fanfiction so no others will be written in.

Thanks to everyone that is giving my story the time of day!

Hope you guess are liking it so far! Remember to review and if it tickles your fancy - follow/favorite!

Auf Wiedersehen!